By Muhammad Qasim
The government is committed and making all out efforts for preservation of the ozone layer as it is a serious problem confronting the global community today along with other environmental problems such as droughts, desertification, loss of forest and biodiversity, degradation of ecosystems, inadequate disposal of solid and liquid waste and various kinds of pollution.
Acting Secretary Ministry of Environment Imtiaz Inayat Elahi expressed this while inaugurating a one-day International Awareness and Information Workshop on Transition Strategy for phasing out Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)-Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) in Pakistan. The Ozone Cell Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other National Stakeholders organized the workshop.
Elahi said that these problems have emerged as a result of years of rapid industrialization without safeguarding the environment. Pakistan has phased out the consumption of 91% of ozone depleting substances, which is above the 85% induction targets fixed under the Montreal Protocol. “We are successfully heading towards 100% phase out target of these ozone depleting substances till 1st January, 2010.”
The objective of the workshop is to increase awareness among the national stakeholders regarding Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), treatment methods for such respiratory ailments and develop collaborative mechanism between medical practitioners, health regulatory authorities and other stakeholders for implementation of measures for phasing out of CFC MDIs. Approximately 12% population of Pakistan is suffering from asthma and COPD. Based on the current population, this would mean that there is an estimated 19.8 million people suffering from asthma and COPD in Pakistan.
At present two types of MDIs are available in the market to cater to the needs of Asthma patients - CFC-based MDIs and non CFC-based (ozone friendly) MDIs. Almost all the asthma patients are using CFC-based MDIs which are easily affordable for the patients being cost effective and economical. However, there is need to promote the ozone friendly inhalers and raise awareness regarding affects of the CFC-based inhalers.
The secretary environment said that government of Pakistan is committed towards global efforts for conservation and improvement of environment and has taken various steps in line with the international obligations under international conventions, protocol and multilateral environmental agreements including the Montreal Protocol on the substances that deplete the ozone layer.
He said that government of Pakistan with the financial and technical supports of Multilateral Funds Secretariat (MLFS) of the Montreal Protocol has already converted its industry particularly in the foam, refrigeration, metal cleaning and fire fighting sectors from ozone depleting substances-based technology to ozone friendly technology. Pakistan has imposed ban on import of CFC based compressors and is in full compliance with regard to import and consumption limits of ozone depleting substances.
Imtiaz Elahi said that CFC-MDIs issue is a matter of concern for Pakistan like other developing countries of the region. The prices of imported CFC free MDIs are three times higher than the locally manufactured CFC-MDIs.